Young road users are the focus of the First United Nations Global Road Safety Week, to be held April 23-29, 2007. Globally, people ages 0-25 years account for more than 40% of the nearly 1.2 million road traffic deaths that occur each year. Events will be hosted around the world with the slogan, “Road Safety is No Accident” to highlight the roles of individuals, organizations, governments and societies in road traffic safety.

In the United States, Global Road Safety Week efforts will be dedicated to teen drivers. During 2004, in the United States, 4,767 teens ages 16 to 19 died of injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes. CDC’s Injury Center is focusing
on how teens can benefit from Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) systems, which address the high risks new drivers face by allowing them to get their initial driving experience under low-risk conditions.

Research suggests that the most strict and comprehensive GDL programs are associated with 38% and 40% reductions in fatal and injury crashes, respectively, among 16-year-old drivers (Baker et al. 2007). Parents also play an important role in keeping teen drivers safe and GDL can support their efforts.

Of course you’re worried about your teen driver. But, as a parent, you can make a difference.

As a parent or guardian, you’re in a unique position to influence your teen’s road safety behavior. Most of you are involved in teaching driving skills, supervising driving, and governing your teens’ access to vehicles. Fortunately, research has shown that close parental management of teen drivers can lead to less risky driving behavior, fewer traffic tickets, and fewer crashes.

Graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems can guide and support you in these activities. Learn more about the GDL law in your state and read the National Safety Council’s Teen Driver: A Family Guide to Teen Driver Safety for helpful tips and suggestions.

References:

Baker SP, Chen L, Li G. Nationwide review of graduated driver licensing. Washington (DC): AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety; 2007.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [Online]. (2006). National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (producer). [Cited 2006 Dec 1] Available from URL: www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Fatality facts: teenagers 2005. Arlington (VA): The Institute; 2006 [cited 2006 Dec 1]. Available from URL: www.iihs.org/research/fatality_facts/teenagers.html.